The younger of the two children of William and Louisa Wreford, Martin, whose full name was Joseph Maurice Martin Wreford, went to the local schools in Crediton, enjoying sports.
He trained as a carpenter with builders Hopkins and Co, having many stories about the properties he worked on and his colleagues. Then came his time on National Service.
Martin had married his childhood sweetheart Dianne, having three children, their two sons - Andrew and Nicholas later joining him in the business.
On behalf of Martin’s daughter, Alyson, and his sons, Andrew wrote: “Times were hard for our parents bringing up the three of us, father working all hours, mother cleaning for a local Solicitors and Barbers then working for Boots the Chemist.
“The family home was 5 Market Street, Crediton, a large town house requiring lots of repairs, most of which father could do.
“Father was made redundant whilst we were relatively young, thankfully he was soon offered a job managing a wallpaper and paint shop in St Thomas, Exeter.
“That shop was loosely also part of a small building company which included a very basic undertaker. Father said he was happy in the wallpaper and paint side but wanted nothing to do with the undertakers.”
Andrew said that Martin put his heart and soul into the shop, Dianne looking after the accounts.
“As time went on he was ‘steered’ into helping with the funeral side of the business. It didn’t take long for him to realise he really liked helping people during a very difficult time of their lives - bereavement and loss of a loved one.”
He added that the “lucky break” came when their home was sold to a High Street Bank, meaning the family was able to move to a new house in Tuckers Close during 1975 /76.
Eventually Martin bought the funeral side of the business, both he and Dianne fully committed to making it a success, not an easy ride at all.
Andrew said: “In the early years Exeter had only four funeral directors, LeRoy Funeral Service being one of them, for a number of years considered a joke by the other three.
“Father had the oldest hearse in town – may have even been Devon.
“Eventually he was able to upgrade to a slightly newer hearse. He was told on numerous occasions he would be far better off working for somebody else. I am pleased they both persevered to make LeRoy’s what it is today,” he said.
He added that Martin was extremely proud of LeRoy and was still involved and taking an active interest just days before he died.
When it moved into Crediton almost 20 years ago, Martin was there helping his sons transform the former Mitchell’s Bakery in the old chapel into what it is today.
He enjoyed sea fishing, he liked cars and, at one time, was part of CODS. Then came the move to Follymoor on the edge of Crediton where he and Dianne shared an interest in the vineyard with growing, pruning, picking, making and the final drinking of their wine.
Andrew added: “Dad was also well-known locally for his Faith Healing abilities, and even up to recent months was helping when asked and still making an amazing difference to peoples lives.”
There was a private funeral at which colleague Chris Barlow was remembered, Andrew saying that Chris had worked with them, was one of their team and a good friend for a number of years.
Donations in Martin’s memory were for Prostate Cancer UK and may still be made through LeRoy Funerals, 94/95 High Street, Crediton, EX17 3LB or via their website: ww.leroyfunerals.co.uk .
Sue Read